When PM Modi’s Question on India-Australia Relations Left Jaishankar Stumped in 2014

When PM Modi’s Question on India-Australia Relations: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who arrived in Brisbane yesterday shared a story from 2014 when PM Modi asked him a question on India-Australia relations and he was left speechless.

Addressing the Indian community in Brisbane, the EAM said, “I remember an early conversation with him (PM Modi) in 2014. He asked me ‘Explain to me why hasn’t our relationship with Australia developed?’ Because it has everything going for it. There is a language, shared culture, and tradition and yet somehow, something is not happening."

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He said he had never reflected on the question. “Things don’t happen automatically. It needs effort, mission and leadership," the EAM said.

PM Modi government which is credited with changing India’s diplomacy in many ways came to power for the first time in 2014.

Sharing his views on the decade of India-Australia relations, Jaishankar said, “This didn’t happen on auto-pilot. People, on both ends, made great efforts to build it."

Jaishankar spoke on how the bilateral relationship has evolved over the last 10 years.

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Jaishankar credited PM Modi, the Australian government, global dynamics and the Indian diaspora for the evolution of India-Australia ties.

“I want to highlight how much this relationship has changed in the last decade. There are four reasons. One PM Modi, two Australia, three the world and fourth is all of you. That is the reason why the relationship has come a long way," the EAM said.

EAM Jaishankar is in Australia from November 3 to November 7 and will inaugurate the 4th Indian consulate in Australia in Brisbane on November 4.

"This is my fifth visit to Australia in the last three years... I first came to Australia when I was Foreign Secretary. Yesterday, before I boarded the flight, I launched a book in which they highlighted seven crucial friendships of India, Australia was one of them. And I told the author; that if he had written the book 10 years ago, I am not sure it would have been. I am saying this because I am trying to stress how much this relationship has in the last decade and why has it changed... There are four reasons. One PM Modi, two Australia, three the world and fourth is all of you. That is the reason why the relationship has come a long way," the EAM said.

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